DALLAS — Kyrie Irving mentioned after 4 losses in 5 video games alongside Luka Doncic that he merely wanted to affix the social gathering.
This was fairly the shindig.
Doncic scored 42 factors, Irving added 40 and the brand new All-Star pairing sparkled all through the Dallas Mavericks’ 133-126 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night time.
Doncic received a matchup of the NBA’s high two scorers as Joel Embiid completed with 35 factors for the 76ers, who have been taking part in an evening after a win in Miami with out their All-Star middle.
Irving and Doncic turned the primary Dallas teammates to attain not less than 40 in the identical sport. They have been simply the fifth pair of gamers on the identical workforce do it in regulation in 30 years.
“Luka was prepared for the social gathering,” Irving mentioned. “I used to be prepared for the social gathering tonight. It was a kind of video games the place we had some particular performances. I’m simply grateful that the work translated as a result of it may have gone both method.”
They every had a 20-point first half whereas combining for 45, then mixed to attain 10 factors within the first 102 seconds of the third quarter to start out a 20-4 run for a 91-71 Dallas lead.
The 76ers scored the primary 15 factors of the fourth quarter to get inside 4 with Embiid and James Harden watching from the bench, which introduced Doncic again within the sport sooner than deliberate.
The return of Doncic, who had 12 assists, acquired Irving going once more with a three-point play and a deep 3-pointer earlier than Doncic hit one other lengthy one for a 119-108 lead. They mixed to go 13 of 21 from deep.
“They have been powerful with one wizard with the basketball in Luka,” Sixers ahead Tobias Harris mentioned. “Now they’ve acquired two of them on the market. These are powerful matchups. They simply picked us aside tonight.”
The franchise’s first pair of All-Star starters, who received for the second time in six video games collectively since Irving arrived within the blockbuster commerce with Brooklyn, acquired others concerned, too.
5 different Mavericks hit 3-pointers as Dallas completed with a season-high 25 3s on 48 makes an attempt (52 %). Irving assisted on a number of of these and completed with six.
“Everyone they handed to made it,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers mentioned. “You have got nights like that, they usually had an evening like that tonight.”
Harden made his first 11 pictures — 5 from the sphere, together with three 3s and 6 free throws — whereas ending the primary half with 19 factors and 10 assists.
The ten-time All-Star guard was restricted to eight factors and three assists after the break and had two of his six turnovers within the fourth quarter — on steals by Doncic and Irving — when Dallas was rebuilding its lead.
Scoring show
Doncic and Irving pulled up for lengthy 3s, with Doncic additionally beating Embiid with step-back pictures after switches. Each scored across the basket as effectively, with Irving making a number of acrobatic layups.
“If I needed to pay to observe somebody play, it could be him for positive,” Doncic mentioned of his fellow All-Star starter. “As a result of a few of these strikes are unbelievable.”
They have been 28 of 44 from the sphere — every trying 22 pictures, with Doncic additionally going 9 of 11 on free throws. Dallas shot 55% and received regardless of Philadelphia being even higher from the sphere at 58%.
